Gonzaga opens WCC play with rout of Pacific
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[December 29, 2017]
The play of freshman reserve
guard Corey Kispert symbolizes No. 20 Gonzaga's wealth of depth and
the Bulldogs' fortitude after their loss at San Diego State on Dec.
21.
Kispert did not score in the defeat to the Aztecs in nine minutes of
playing time. Before that, he missed two games with a sprained ankle
and produced only 14 points in the last four games before Gonzaga
took its Christmas break.
On Thursday night, Kispert came alive in Gonzaga's West Coast
Conference opener with 12 points and six rebounds in an 81-48 win
over Pacific in Spokane, Wash.
Another reserve, forward Rui Hachimura, led the Bulldogs with 19
points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field and 7-of-7 shooting at the
foul line.
"Coming off a loss will keep you up late at night thinking of what
you did wrong," Kispert said. "We're forced to put the last game
behind us. To come back here and play as well as we did is a huge
step going forward for us."
Gonzaga's starters all average double-figure scoring, including
junior guard Josh Perkins, who finished with 16 points and five
assists. Zach Norvell Jr. added 13 points and five rebounds.
The Bulldogs (11-3, 1-0 WCC) have won 22 consecutive league openers
dating to 1996. They have won all 19 conference openers under coach
Mark Few.
"What we have to do next is make a statement by starting 2-0 in
league play (with a win over visiting Santa Clara on Saturday) by
protecting our home court," Few said. "That is something this
program has been great at, winning the next one, being mentally
prepared. We have to continue that."
Pacific (5-9, 0-1) did not have a scorer in double figures. The
Tigers, who shot only 33.3 percent from the field, including 25
percent from 3-point range, were led by Jahlil Tripp's nine points.
Jack Williams had seven points and nine rebounds.
"The reality of it is, and I'll tell anybody this, we played good
enough defense for the first 25 and 35 minutes, but it does not
matter if you're not making point-blank shots," Pacific coach Damon
Stoudamire said. "We did not take advantage of our opportunities."
Gonzaga, which outrebounded Pacific 46-32, did not trail after
Kispert made a layup with 13:57 left in the first half, giving the
Bulldogs a 10-8 lead.
The home team built a 31-21 edge by halftime behind 11 points from
Perkins.
A 14-2 run that gave Gonzaga a 61-39 lead with 10:28 left in the
game proved to be difference. Norvell, Perkins, Kispert and Killian
Tillie each made 3-pointers in that surge.
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Bulldogs guard Zach Norvell Jr. (23) shoot a free throw after a
Pacific Tigers technical foul during the second half at McCarthey
Athletic Center. The Bulldogs won 81-48. Mandatory Credit: James
Snook-USA TODAY Sports
"We came into a tough atmosphere here, and in the second half, we
hung our heads," Pacific guard Miles Reynolds said. "They
capitalized with some threes that blew it open. We have to do a
better job of moving on to the next play by having short-term
memory."
Gonzaga forgot about its ball-handling woes, committing just seven
turnovers after averaging 14.1 entering the game. Pacific had only
eight points off turnovers, a key stat along with the Bulldogs
producing a 22-2 edge on second-chance points.
"We've been so awful taking care of the ball, if we turn the ball
over only seven times the rest of the season, we'll be very, very
good," Few said.
Pacific had only 10 turnovers, but seven came before halftime, and
Gonzaga cashed those in for eight points.
"If we don't make those turnovers, we could be winning at halftime,"
Stoudamire said. "I honestly feel as a team, we have to figure out
how to make Pacific a better basketball team. We don't have to be
concerned about anything but ourselves."
NOTES: Gonzaga has won the past 11 meetings against Pacific. The
Tigers' only win in the series came Dec. 23, 1976, a 70-60 decision
in Stockton, Calif. The Tigers have never won in Spokane. ...
Pacific reserve G Kendall Small entered the game 46th in the
country, and first in the West Coast Conference, with an average of
2.08 steals per game. He went without a steal in 16 minutes against
Gonzaga. ... PF Johnathan Williams led Gonzaga in scoring at 15.2
points per game before Thursday, but he finished with just two
points against the Tigers.
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